Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Siblings, Some Half-Century Later

Like many American families, mine is spread out across
multiple states.If I could change this
geographic wandering, especially the miles of distance apart from my siblings,
I certainly would.But I learned a long
time ago that families, like birds, often live their lives far from their
original nesting ground.And so comes the
advantage of owning a condo-on-wheels, proving a great way to visit family and
friends, in-between use in our glorious state and national parks.A great way, that is, when not holding family
reunions in July, during the certain heat and humidity of our Lone Star State.But this kid sister spends time with her brothers
any chance she gets.

And so this past weekend found the rick-man and me in
central Texas, partaking in a wonderful reunion with my siblings and the
families we each have created.

I am never certain what food we may eat when we gather,
or what conversations and recent life experiences we may share, but I’m always
confident that we will spend time outside—no matter how hot or humid.A passion and respect for Mother Nature are
strong family values that give we three unique offspring a common ground.We three siblings honor our parents through
individual hobbies and interests that reflect a childhood where camping trips
were what was meant by vacation; where “free-time” meant outdoor play; and
where “include your sister” meant I was always in for a wonderful adventure.

Pictures tell the story better than words.A childhood of outdoor play where toys were often empty boxes and inner tubes:

State park hikes included being carried "in the arm chair" when kid sister couldn't keep up:

And some half-century later, a day hike is what we mean by a reunion outing: